Electric-arc lamp



(No Model.)

' G. O. MAILLOUX.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP. No. 313,437. 4 Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

Wimumz chureniov:

(I 0. J11 aillo luz,

N. PETEBS. W ac UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ (J. ODILON MAILLOUX, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOM- SON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIPICATION foi'ming part of Letters Patent No. 313,437, dated March 3, 1885.

' Application filed September 15,1833. (Yomodeh) To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, O. ODILON MAILLOUX, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Arc Lamps, of which-the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the arrangement of magnets controlling the movements of carbon- IO carriers in electric-arc lamps, and more especially to those forms oflamp in which the movement of the feed mechanism is under the direct control of a magnet which is in a derived circuit of high resistance and acts in opposi tion to a spring or weight tending to hold the feed-controlling mechanism in such position that the carbon or carbon-carrier cannot move.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective arrangement of magnets and circuits whereby, when the lamp starts into operation, there may be a positive movement imparted to the feed mechanism, so as to force or allow the carbons to come together, andwhereby, further, after contact between 2 5 the carbons is once established, the operation of the feed mechanism may be left to the sole control of the derived-circuit magnet and its opposing spring or weight.

My invention consists, broadly, in the combination, with any i'eedcontrolling mechanism normally tending to keep the carbons apart, and a derived-circuit magnet supporting the same, of an auxiliary magnet or coil the circuit through which is closed when the car- 5 bons are separated for bringing or allowing the carbons to come together, and an electro magnet or other device energized by the current which passes through the carbons when in contact, for operating a commutator or 40' switch, whereby the flow of current through the auxiliary coil or magnet may be interrnpted when the current through the carbons is established, so that the carbon-adjusting operations may then proceed under the control of the usual magnet system.

My invention consists, further, in the combination, with feed-controlling mechanism for an electric lamp, of a derived-circuit magnet of high resistance acting on the same against the force of a spring or weight which tendsto keep the carbon-carrier from moving, a supplemental or auxiliary coil or magnet for assisting the derived-circuit magnet, and a magnet in the carbon circuit, whereby said anXiliary coil or magnet may be placed in circuit when no current is flowing through the carbons, but may be taken out of circuit when the current flows through the carbons.

My invention further consists in certain specified combinations that will be set out in the claims, whereby the general objects of the invention are accomplished, and whereby, f urther, a cut-out circuit is afforded for the lamp in case of derangement of the feed mechanism.

The accompanying drawing shows in elevation the parts of a lamp embodying my invention, and illustrates one arrangement of the circuits and devices that may be employed for carrying the invention into effect.

I have herein shown my invention as ap- 7c plied to a lamp in which the feed mechanism consists of a retarded clock-work train gearing with the carbon-carrier and released at the proper times to allow a feed to take place; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such construction of feed mechanism, since the invention is equally applicable to other forms of feed-controlling mech anism, as will be obvious from the subjoined specification making clear the general prin- 8o ciples of the invention and the method of operation of the auxiliary coil or magnet and switch or commutator.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the upper-carbon carrier of an electric lamp, and 8 5 B the main wheel of a clock-work train. The shaft of said wheel carries a pinion engaging, as usual, with a rack on the carbon-carrier, and the wheel itself imparts movement, as indicated,to an escapement-wheel, O,with which engages the ordinary vibrating cscapement carrying fly or vane D. The ordinary adj ustable detent for the latter is indicated at E.

The parts as thus far described constitute an ordinary clock work train for electric lamps, the function of which is to allow a slow retarded movement of the carbon carrier downward when the fly and detent are disengaged, but to hold said carrier from move-' ment downward when said fly and detent are roo engaged, so that the carbon may be prevented from feeding, or may be raised bodily to form the are when the part supporting the clockwork train is raised.

F indicates a portion of a frame in which the train is pivoted, and G the armature or magnet-lever of the lamp, upon which lever the frame F is pivoted and supported in the ordinary way, and as indicated.

At f is indicated a parallel-motion link, which is intended to cause the pinion engaging with the carrier to move in astraight vertical line when the point of support for frame F moves on the are of a circle. Lever G is supported in any usual manner, and carries an attached electro-magnet, H, of the ordinary form and of preferably low resistance, which magnet, when a current passes through its coils, acts as the auxiliary supplemental magnet, forming a part of the present invention. XVhen no current is passing in its coils, its core is the simple armature for the electro-magnet I, which is the usual derived-circuit magnet of an electric lamp, and acts, when the are becomes abnormally long, to tilt the lever G, and, by disengaging the fly D and detent E, to allow a feed of the carbon to take place.

K indicates the retractor-spring acting in opposition to the magnet I, and tending to keep the fly and detent in engagement and hold the carbons apart.

L indicates a switch or commutator, which is under'the control of a retractor, N, and a magnet, M, the latter being of preferably low resistance, and connected into the carboncircuit in such way that when current flows in the normal or greater than normal amount through said carbons said magnet will be energized and will hold the switch L against a contact-stop, 0. hen, however, thereis no current through the carbons,or when said current becomes abnormally weak, the spring N will hold the switch against the contact-stop P, the magnet M being then not sufficiently strong to overcome the force of the retractor N. In the first instance the circuits are such that practically no current can flow in the coils of magnet or armature H. In the sec ond instance there is a path for the current through coils Hindependent of the lamp, as will be presently described.

The general circuits and operation are as follows: Entering at point X, the circuit is through 7 to a point, I), where it divides, one path being through 8 to the insulated stop 0, and when the switch is against said stop to a point, e, by switch L and wire 9. The other path is through the eoarse-wire coils of H to point 0. From the latter point there is the usual main circuit through the wire 10, the spring S bearing on the upper-carbon carrier, the carbons when the latter are in contact or burning, the connection 12 from the lower carbon, and to point X. In the latter connection are the coils of magnet M. as indicated. The coils of fine wire on the magnet I constitute the ordinary high-resistance shunt around the carbons, and are in the circuit 14, as indicated, between the points (I and e.

In addition to the circuits described, there is an additional connection from contact-stop P through an artificial resistance, R, (which latter may, however,be dispensed with,) to the point a: on the negative side of the carbons.

The general operation is as follows: When no current is passing,the lever G will be acted upon by the spring K, so as to hold the fly and detent D E in engagement and prevent the carbons from coming into contact. The switchlever L will rest against stop P, and the coils of H will be in the auxiliary branch circuit for the main conductor from I) through c, 9, L, P, R, and to X. A small percentage of current will also flow through the derived-circuit coils of I. The connection being made as described, the magnet H will be strongly and forcibly attracted to the magnet I, thus dopressing the left-hand end of lever G and lowering the upper carbon bodily, as well as releasing the fiy D from E, so that the train may rotate and allow the carbon to feed. By these means the carbons come into contact, thus closing a circuit through and causing the energization of magnet M, which has up to this time been passive, and is not excited until actual contact has been established bet-ween the carbons. There are now two paths for the main current, one from point 0 through the carbons, magnet M, and to X, the other from 0 through 9, L, P, and R. The resistance R serves to force a portion of the current through the coils of M, which is immediately energized, and draws down the switch L out of contact with P and into contact with O. No destructive arc is, howei er, produced at P, a circuit of low resistance having been already established through the carbons and M. The resistance R need not be a high resistance, its function being only to temporarily force current into the carbons and the magnet M, and with the magnet of very low resistance which I ordinarily employ at M the resistance may be dispensed with. The switch L being now against the contact -stop 0. the coils of magnet H are thereby shortcircuited, and receive only a small proportion of current, a new path of low resistance being established by the motion of the lever L, so that themain circuit from b is now practically through con tact-point O, lever L, conductor 9, to c. The greatest proportion of the current having been withdrawn from the coils of H, the core of the latter is now practically no more than an ordinary armature for the magnet I, and its lilting-power upon the lever G, by reason of the great loss of magnetism in said core, is so weakened and theliftingpower of magnet I is so little, owing to the fact that the carbons are in contact, that the retractor-spring K new acts to lift the cloclrwork train and the upper carbon and to establish the arc in the ordinary way. The lever G is now under the control of the magnet I, acting on H as an armature and against the spring K, and the feed is produced in evident manner whenever the are lengthens so as to force the current into I to a sufficient extent to cause it to overcome spring K and disengage the fly and detent. So long as the are is of normal length, the magnet M holds down the switch L, thus keeping the current from flowing through the branch including the coils of H, wire 9, and resistance R. If, however, through any defect of a lampas when the mechanism becomes clogged-the arc becomes abnormally long and weakens the current in the whole circuit, the magnet M weakens sufficiently to allow the switch to be drawn against the contact P and close the auxiliary branch through the coils of H and the resistance R. The effect of this is to extinguish the abnormally-long arc and to shunt out the lamp from the main circuit. As the magnet II is included in this shunt or cut-out circuit, it becomes energized and causes a decided movement of the lever G, which may suffice to start the clogged mechanism. If the carrier fail to move downward through any cause, the arc fails to form, and since the mag net M cannot become energized the circuit from I) through H, c, 9, I1, I and to X remains closed, and forms a safety branch circuit for the current around the lamp. If, however, the carbons feed,the conditions and operation pre viously described will be resumed and the switch L will be again drawn down against stop 0.

When the lamp is used as a series of lamps, all the switches L may recede against stops P, owing to an abnormal resistance in one lamp, Without doing harm, since the only effect is then toenergize all the magnets H and to cause a drop or feed of all the carbons; but the properly-acting lamps will resume their operation, while the defective lamp, if its carbons still refuse to feed, will have a safety or branch circuit maintained by the switch L, as just described.

I do not l'mit myself to any particular construction of switch or commutator, nor to any particular form of magnet, M, the gist of my invention consisting in make the commutator perform the desired electrical operation of stopping the flow of current in an auxiliary magnet, H, which latter is employed simply to assist in bringing the carbons together, and in controlling or actuating said commutator for the stated purpose by a magnet energized by the current which flows through the carbons when they come together.

Although I have described the core of the auxiliary magnet as forming an armature for the derived-circuit magnet of high resistance, it is obvious that such an arrangement is not necessary, although it is desirable, because rendering the employment of separate or dis tinet magnets or armatures unnecessary.

By the arrangement described it will be observed that in effect the core of each magnet H and I acts in turn as an armature for the other, the core of I acting as an armature to II when the lamp starts into action, while the core of H acts as an armature to I when the action has been established.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, in an electric-arclamp, of a feed-regulating armature or lever supporting the electrode, and actuated in opposite directions by current in a derived circuit of high resistance and by a suit-able retractor, a starting coil or circuit, and a circuit-controller for throwing said startingcoil out of action and holding it out of action while the lamp continues in operation, said controller being energized by reason of the circuit established by the coming together of the carbons.

2. The combination, in an electric-arc lamp, of a feed-regulating armature or lever supporting the electrode, and actuated in opposite dircctions by current in a derived circuit of high resistance and by a suitable retractor, a starting-coil in an auxiliary branch around the carbons, a circuit-controller whereby said auxiliary branch may be broken, and an electro-magnet or coil in the circuit established by contact of the carbons, as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, in an electric lamp, of a feed-regulating armature or lever supporting the electrode, and actuated in opposite directions by current in a derived circuit of high resistance and by a suitable retractor, an auxiliary or starting coil in a branch around the carbons, an electromagnct in the carbon-circuit, and a circuit breaker or controller for throwing out the starting coil or circuit and holding it out so long as current flows through the carbons.

4. The combination, in an electriclamp, of a derived-circuit feed-controlling magnet and auxiliary assisting-coil for assisting the same in acting upon the feed regulating lever, means for throwing said auxiliary coil out of action, and an electro-magnet in the carboncircuit for holding said coil out of action so long as currentflows.

5. The combination, in an electric lamp,ofa high-resistance derived-circuit magnet, feed mechanism controlled thereby, an electrode suspended from said feed mechanism, a lever carrying the feed mechanism and actuated in opposite directions by the influence of current in a high-resistance derived circuit and by a suitable retractor, an assisting coil in a branch around the carbons, and a magnet in the arc branch for operating the circuit-controller, as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination, in an electric lamp, of feed-controlling mechanism normally tending to separate the carbons, a derived-circuit coil acting on said feed-controlling mechanism so as to tend to draw the carbons together,an electro-magnet or coil in circuit when the carbons are separated for bringing the carbons tolot) gether, a circuit-controller whereby said coil may be rendered inactive, and an electro-magnet acting on the circuit-controller and in a circuit with the carbons, as and for the purpose described.

7. In an electric lamp, the combination of a derived-circuit magnet of high resistance, feed mechanism mounted on a lever controlled by said magnet, a supplemental coil through which the current flows when current is turned upon the circuit for bringing the lever and its supported feed mechanism into operating position, and means for cutting off the flow of current in said coil and holding it cut out, said means being controlled by the flow of current through the carbons, whereby the lamp may continue its operation under the control of the high-resistance derived-circuit magnet only.

8. The combination, in an electric lamp, of a ieedcontrolling mechanism normally tending to separate the carbons, a high-resistance magnet acting upon said mechanism to cause the carbons to come together, a supplemental magnet or coil in circuit when the lamp is out of action and the carbons are separated for assisting the high-resistance magnet, and a commutator or switch electro-magnet for c011- trolling the flow of current in said supplemental electromagnet or coil, as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination, in an electric lamp, of

a feed mechanism normally tending to separate the carbons, acontrolling-magnet in a derived circuit of high resistance, an armature therefor wound with a coil through which the current flows when the carbons are separated, and a magnet in circuit with the carbons for controlling the flow of current in said coil.

10. The combination, in an electric lamp, of an electro-magnet for causing an approach of the carbons when separated, a switch or com- Inutator that normally closes a branch for the main circuit through said magnet, and an electro-magnet in circuit with the carbons for operating said switch so as to interrupt the branch as soon as the carbons come together, and at the same time to complete a short circuit around the electro-magnet that causes the carbons to come together.

11. The'combination of the derived-circuit magnet I in a shunt of high resistance, the armature-magnet H, the switch-lever having two contacts, one controlling a branch around the lamp and through the coils of H, the other controlling a shunt around said coils and electro-magnet M in the main circuit from the negative carbon.

12. The combination,in an electric 1amp,of a feed-regulating derived-circuit coil and retractor acting in opposition to the pull of said coil, an electrode supported in proper relative position to the opposite electrode by said coil, a starting-coil in an auxiliary branch around the electrodes, a circuit-controller for said branch, and an elcctro-magnet or coil in a circuit established by contact of the carbons.

13. The combination, in an electric lamp, of an electrode supported in proper relation to the opposite electrode by the influence of current in a derived-circuit coil, a retractor act ingin opposition to said coil to determine the degree of separation of the two electrodes,feedregulating devices controlled by the action of the increased current forced into the high-resistance derived circuit on lengthening of the are, a starting coil or circuit, and a circuitcontroller for throwing said starting coil or circuit out of action, said controller being energized for such purpose by reason of the circuit established by the coming together of the carbons.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of September, A. D. 1883.

G. ODILON MAILLOUX.

\Vitnesses:

THOS. TOOMEY, CLARENCE E. STRUMP. 

